Gelkote

When we moved in a few years ago Cherie discovered a loose baseboard in one of the bedroom closets. Behind it was a stash of cigarettes. This evening I found a much more elaborate hiding spot in the other bedroom complete with its own latch and bungee cord.

Front Bedroom Closet’s Secret Cubby – September 6th, 2008

But our closets contain other craziness such as a telephone directory and cartoon graffiti.

Front Bedroom Closet’s Telephone Directory – September 6th, 2008

Back Bedroom Closet’s Graffiti – September 6th, 2008

Did I mention we found porn above some ductwork in the basement during one of our showings? Ah, home sweet home…

When was the last time you walked around a cemetery? Funerals don’t count. I’m talking about a conscious effort to linger and observe. Look at the headstones, the names, dates, relationships and epitaphs. The stories are amazing. Here are two from the Union – Flick Cemetery outside of Benton Ridge, OH.

Robert E. Walter/Union – Flick (Tawa) Cemetery – September 6th, 2008
Today is the 9th anniversary of his passing as well as what would have been his 50th wedding anniversary. I can’t help but wonder where his wife Janet is today and what she is thinking.

Simon Cramer/Flick (Tawa) Cemetery – September 6th, 2008
Simon passed because of lighting over a 157 years ago at an age of 40. How bad was the storm and what was he doing? We probably will never know.

These are just two but there are so many more.  Cemeteries are places of great intrigue and reflection.  Go for a drive or check out Grave Addiction for a virtual sampling. Beth does outstanding work documenting the history of Ohio and neighboring state’s cemeteries. You know she is good when she has captured cemeteries both where I live now and those from my childhood town some 4.5 hours away.

Duke’s Cemetery – September 6th, 2008

One thing I’ve noticed being down with the crud is the amount of crap on TV. There are some redeeming gems like today’s episode of Saved from the Wrecking Ball on PBS which talked about the Farnsworth House Southwest of Chicago. This example of modern architecture had quite a story to tell.  It has survived a love/hate relationship between the original client and architect, a flood and a Sotherby’s auction.

In other house news, Roadside America reports the original Waffle House near Atlanta has been turned into a WH museum.

I now have two more destinations on my to do travel list. Who’s game for a road trip?

I’m currently in the runny nose sore throat phase with great hopes to nip this mother right here and now.

4 Oz of 1800 Anejo
2 Oz of Cointreau
Juice of One Lime

Nose has stopped running and throat feels about half better. Another plus, it will be easier to watch Palin and Giuliani speak this evening. Cheers to that!

Battling the Crud in my Kitchen – September 3rd, 2008

The cafeteria at work used to be a nice place to eat with appealing selections and tasty homemade deserts. It was quality food at a good price. I’m here to tell you those days are over! We are in the land of a breakfast bar for lunch and a thing called Chef’s choice every Friday. Are you kidding me? I escaped that crap in grade school. No more pineapple upside down cake and tatter tots for me thank you!

Don LaFontaine passed yesterday.

Good times at Jeffery’s Antiques this afternoon.

$9.00 – Mount
$3.00 – No Postage Stamp Necessary if Mailed in the United States
$3.00 – The Side Car Restaurant
$3.00 – Cold Cartoon Man

$1.00 – Corn Girls

$1.00 – Old Snow

$2.00 – Group Photo (I just love the guy in the window, the mischievous girl in the second row and how dirty almost everyone’s shoes are. Click the Picture for Larger View)

Corner of Crawford & Beech in Findlay, OH – August 28th, 2008

I live in a house that’s over a hundred years old. It’s older than me by about a factor of 3x. It has been around for the invention of television, the Great Depression and the Holocaust. It always needs work and it’s drafty in the Winter but I like it. It has character and it has soul. The longer I’m on this earth, the more I learn to appreciate heritage. I’m a long way from being a historian. Details are not my strong suite. Our newer, faster and bigger culture is turning us into plastic crap mall house lemmings.

Original Family of the House – Date Unknown

I have been in my house for two years but I still don’t have a place for my stuff. A place to write, both code and literature. A place for bills and to do lists. A place for my books, knickknacks and electronic gadgets. Heck, a place to hang a calendar! That all changed yesterday with the arrival of my new/old rolltop desk thanks to ebay and a kind person around Canton, OH whose wife just about killed him for selling the desk. I never knew a desk could make me so happy! It has cubbies and drawers galore for all my stuff. It cost the same as a desk from Ikea but it has character, soul and patina. The tambour needs some work but I still love my desk.  There is an almost identical desk on ebay just North of Toledo.  It has about 3 day and is sitting at $99 so giddy up.

Rolltop Desk – August 27th 2008

Along the same lines of enjoyment is the stamp I found at the Glen Dale Drive-In flea market a few weeks ago.  It was only $2!  I can’t think of any plastic made in China trinket that could bring me as much joy and intrigue.  I suspect it was used to create stationary for a locker company but that’s only an off the wall guess.   Who knows?

Vintage Stamp from the Glen Dale, WV Flea Market – Purchased August 17th

Keeping with the old has character theme, there is an upcoming documentary called Draplin Project by Jess Gibson. It features Aaron James Draplin. His passion is amazing and I can’t wait for the documentary. Here’s a sample from Vimeo.

America Is F*cked…….(Graphically at least) from Jess Gibson on Vimeo.

Wrapping up this Clump O’ Nuggets episode vintage style are two historical icons that have died recently no thanks to big business. I’m not going to paraphrase their history as there are sites on the Internet that do it much better, Google it. The first is the majestic SS Norway who died a slow rotting death off the India coast before being scrapped. The second is the 119 year old Geagua Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio near Cleveland who closed abruptly last fall only to be auctioned off this summer. Some suspect it was the result of it’s parent company clearing a competition for it’s larger Cedar Point but we’ll never know. You can check out the memories, sorrow and speculation at an awesome website called Geauga Lake Today. It’s all sad, painful and simply amazing. 

I’m planning a trip to Jeffrey’s this weekend to poke around for old pictures and an old lamp for my desk if anyone is curious and would like to join. It will only be for a few hours. Look me up.

Mitchell Power Plant South of Moundsville, WV – August 18th, 2008